Claudia's Corner: If you can smell it, you can't sell it

Sunday

Mar 29, 2009 at 2:00 AM

The nose knows.

The nose knows.

I'm talking about house odors. Stinky-house syndrome is a tough topic because the people that live in the house are so used to the obnoxious smell that they don't realize there is a problem. Trying to sell that stinky house in this competitive market is next to impossible; an unpleasant house odor is a deal breaker. There is a staging saying, "If you can smell it, you can't sell it."

Professional carpet cleaning, when done right, adds tremendous value to a home. Choosing a carpet cleaning company can be a vexing problem. Al Beers, local carpet cleaner and Realtor at Keller Williams, has put together a 24-hour free recorded message to help people make the right choice for a carpet cleaning. The message explains different cleaning methods and provides questions and to ask, as well as what credentials to request, of a professional. To hear the message, call (toll-free) 888-755-7719, ext. 9000.

Chris Memmelaar of DKI — Hudson Valley (294-9068) has Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification in odor removals. According to him, there are four principles to odor control:

1. Remove source.

2. Clean contaminated area (source).

3. Penetration of odor counteracting process into all surfaces and spaces.

4. Sealing.

"Acclimation is when a person becomes accustomed to odor," says Memmeaar. "Some odors may be remedied by just one technique, and others may require multiple procedures." Methods include dilution, neutralization, absorbents, oxidizing agents, biocides and bio-enzymatic digestion.

So, is your house stinky? An honest real estate agent or stager will be able to point out the obvious; they have a fresh nose. Or call a friend over to take the sniff test.

What is the best scent? Think "clean." That's right; a clean house doesn't have an obvious scent. And masking an offensive smell is not the answer. Masking it with another scent from, say, canned air fresheners or incense, can create a more offensive scent. Many people have allergies. Your favorite scent can be repulsive to another person. Anything with a floral note sets my sinuses off.

The best strategy when selling a house: Make it look, feel and smell clean.